Budget 2024 highlights: All eyes on last Budget before Lok Sabha elections

Interim Budget 2024 LIVE:  A resolution praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya will be introduced during the budget session of the Gujarat assembly beginning February 1, a state minister said. The state budget for FY 2024-25 will be presented on February 2. 

'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' have become our strengths, President Murmu said in her speech to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs. President Murmu also lauded defence production crossing the Rs 1 trillion mark.

The Budget session of Parliament, the last of the Modi government's current tenure, began today with the President’s address to a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the vote on accounts on Thursday. The Budget session is set to have eight sittings and will end on February 9.


 

9:11 PM

Union Budget 2024: What is Economic Survey and why is it important?

By now, you should be familiar with the annual process undertaken by the members of the Indian Finance Ministry to present India's Union Budget, which determines the country's expenditures for the upcoming year. But do you know what is the Economic Survey? In this episode of Business Standard's Budget Made Easy, we'll explain what Economic Survey is and how it outlines key aspects for the Union Budget. Click here to read more

8:47 PM

Hope Budget has long term plan for GST on e-cars, says Mercedes-Benz India CEO

Mercedes-Benz India is hoping that the Budget on Thursday will outline a long-term plan regarding the goods and service tax (GST) on electric cars, enabling auto companies to plan their investments accordingly, according to its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Santosh Iyer, in a statement to Business Standard on Wednesday.

8:21 PM

Declare crop MSP based on C2+50% formula in interim budget: Samyukt Kisan Morcha to govt

The day before the interim budget for 2024-25, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha urged the BJP-led government to fulfill its commitment of offering Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops using the "C2+50 per cent" formula, which factors in the comprehensive cost of production. The farmers' umbrella body criticized the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, labeling it as a deceptive measure intended to deprive farmers of their entitled MSP.

7:44 PM

Gujarat assembly to bring resolution praising PM Modi for Ram Temple in Budget session

A resolution praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya will be introduced during the budget session of the Gujarat assembly beginning February 1, a state minister said. The state budget for FY 2024-25 will be presented on February 2. On the other hand, the opposition Congress said they will corner the BJP government on a range of issues including inflation, unemployment, and the recent boat capsize tragedy in a lake in Vadodara, resulting in the death of 12 students and two teachers.

7:13 PM

Budget 2024: What is this fiscal exercise all about

The budget season is here, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to present her sixth consecutive budget speech in the Parliament on Thursday. The budget, though an interim one due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, is likely to highlight the key economic achievements of the Narendra Modi government in the last 10 years of its rule. Sitharaman may outline the government's idea for the economic development of India if it secures a third consecutive win in the elections, scheduled for April-May. Click here to read more

7:00 PM

Why Budget presentation time was changed to 11 am from 5 pm?

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to announce her sixth consecutive Budget on February 1. It will be an Interim Budget as India is set to witness the Lok Sabha elections later this year. A full-fledged Budget will be presented once the new cabinet is appointed. The Budget is presented at 11 am on February 1 every year. But this was not the case earlier as it was announced at 5 pm on the last working day of February. Click here to read more

6:39 PM

Know difference between Interim Budget, Union Budget

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to announce her sixth consecutive Budget. It will be an Interim budget as India is set to witness the Lok Sabha elections later this year. A full-fledged Budget will be presented once the new cabinet is appointed. The Budget 2024 will be announced on February 1 at 11 am. Earlier, it was announced on the last working day of February, but it was changed during the first term of the Narendra Modi government by former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Click here to read more

6:25 PM

At Rs 9.82 trillion, April-Dec fiscal deficit 55% of govt's annual target

Ahead of the presentation of the interim Budget for financial year 25, the fiscal deficit of the Centre touched 55 per cent (Rs 9.8 trillion) of the full-year target for the April to December period of financial year 24, the latest data by the Controller General of Accounts released on Wednesday showed.

5:09 PM

Budget 2024: Will there be a special package for rural India in interim Budget?

The Centre could launch targeted measures that would make up a special package aimed at the agricultural and non-agricultural rural sectors. Read here for more details. 

5:04 PM

Here are the highlights of President Droupadi Murmu's speech at new Parliament building

President Murmu's address ahead of the Budget session, marked her inaugural speech in the new Parliament building. Click here to read more on the President's speech. 

5:00 PM

Central govt should focus on capital expenditure in interim Budget: Former NITI VC

Former NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar today stated that the centre needs to continue its focus on capital expenditure in the upcoming interim budget, as private investment is 'still weak' and there is a need to bridge infrastructure gap, which has been 'plaguing' the Indian economy

4:26 PM

LIVE news update: April-December fiscal deficit reaches 55% of target

3:10 PM

Budget 2024 LIVE: What to expect from FM Sitharaman's Budget speech?

FM Sitharaman had stated that there may not be any big announcement in the upcoming Budget. However, media reports have stated that there may be some announcements related to the welfare schemes. These include a hike in disbursements under PM-Kisan from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000, increased allocation towards the MGNREGS Scheme and increased coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

3:06 PM

Good governance, transparency cornerstone of every system, says President Murmu

"Over the past decade, my government has made good governance and transparency the cornerstone of every system," President Murmu emphasised in her speech to Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs.

12:22 PM

Budget 2024 LIVE: Atmosphere of security and safety in J&K, says Prez Murmu

"There is an atmosphere of security and safety in Jammu & Kashmir. There has been a huge drop in incidents of naxal violence," says Prez Murmu in her speech.